Creative England 50 A book about England’s creativity Creative England is three years old. In that time we have invested over £14,436,230 in the games, TV, film and digital media industries. We have helped to create 49 new digital creative businesses and provided support to over 500 more. In the last two years we’ve helped 1,936 productions to film on location in the English regions, bringing over £171 million to local economies, and creating over 10,000 days of work for local crews. We’ve invested over £1,542,580 in the games industry and last year, we helped new directors create 24 short films – this year we’ll fund 40 more. This report is a celebration of our achievements and recognition of the contribution the Creative Industries make to our economy. The following 50 individuals and businesses demonstrate just what can be achieved with a little investment and a lot of talent. Contents Foreword by Caroline 4 The Creative England 50 8 Where are the 50? 10 Judges 12 Company Profiles 17 The Industry View – Deloitte 38 England’s regional opportunity 40 Thanks 42 3 And yet these businesses that are so vital to our future competitiveness Foreword in the global economy are facing challenges that threaten their growth and ambition. They suffer from substantial skills shortages. They suffer from financial institutions that find it difficult to get out of their old habits and lend against intangible assets. Perhaps most significantly, they suffer from an investment culture characterised by a limited appetite Caroline for taking ‘risks’. The result is that the vast majority of the UK’s creative businesses struggle to access growth finance. This means talent is undeveloped, ideas unrealised, and opportunities lost. Norbury MBE That is why at Creative England we invest, connect, mentor, advocate and collaborate at all levels of the industry, from small independents to large internationals – creating the right conditions for success. From directors to entrepreneurs, games studios to app developers, writers to animators and production companies it’s our job to cultivate Creative the creativity that is one of the hallmarks of this country. We work with government, financiers and policy makers to build a better environment for the industry, promoting long-term investment in intellectual property that remains in the UK and contributes to the England UK’s future prosperity. We recognise that talent is everywhere; it’s not a lack of talent that has led to our unbalanced economy – it’s a lack of investment and opportunity. To prove that is true, and not just a romantic dream, we’re highlighting Chief 50 of our brightest and best talents – innovators, creators and boundary breakers – people who we believe are challenging and changing preconceptions of our world-leading creative industries. They come from every part of the country and, far from being “risky”, Executive their successes are already proving that the creative economy is where long term prosperity lies. In addition, we have asked a panel of judges to help us identify We are living at a time of great creative disruption, generating new 10 Creative England Future Leaders – an extraordinary group ways of living, working and thinking. At the forefront of this disruption of individuals and companies, supported by Creative England, are creators – artists, entrepreneurs and technologists whose ideas who we think have the potential to disrupt the sector with and values are being absorbed into every facet of the 21st century cutting-edge innovation. global economy and society. And the UK is leading the way. The Chancellor of the Exchequer recently proclaimed that the UK’s In 2012, British films earned a worldwide gross of $5.3 billion – that’s creative industries are in the midst of a new ‘golden age’. This report 15% of the global box office. We are the second largest exporter is our way of sharing the good news and making sure it stays that way. of television in the world and the UK games industry is responsible for creating some of the world’s most recognisable games. But that’s not all. One of the fastest growing areas for this new economy is business to business. Creative content businesses, and the thinking behind them, are driving innovative cross-sector ventures in health, education, financial services, retail, high-end manufacturing and government services. There isn’t a sector unaffected by digital distribution, communications and production. 4 — Creative England 50 Foreword — 5 The Goob Courtesy of EMU Films Main image © iFeatures Ltd and BFI 2014 Creativity is contagious Albert Einstein pass it on. 6 — Creative England 50 7 The Creative England 50 1 England’s thriving creative industries are among the most successful in the world and are made up of talented, dedicated people who take risks and push boundaries. The Creative Economy thrives on experimentation, co-operation, imagination and, crucially, creativity. The following 50 individuals and businesses all form part of this new world. Some are emerging talents, others more established, but all are inventive, innovative and brave. Some have been supported by Creative England but what unites them all is their ability to turn creative ideas into commercial success. The beauty of creativity is that it takes just a small seed of investment to help individuals and businesses grow beyond their wildest dreams. What we do By offering funding and tailored support to the games, TV, film and digital media industries, we help them to flourish. We invest, mentor, advocate and collaborate at all levels of the industry, creating the right conditions for more success. Games – We connect game creators and studios to the funds, mentors and partners they need to grow solid, sustainable companies. 2 3 Film – We deliver tailored mentoring, support and funding to established and emerging filmmakers to feed the future of our industry. Business Support – We help businesses bloom, with investments, expertise and development support designed to make our creative industries world-leading. Production Services – From sourcing locations to negotiating filming permissions, our production services experts connect filmmakers and programme makers to the people, places and facilities that make England an amazing place to film. To find out more, visit: www.creativeengland.co.uk 4 5 01. The cast of Sweetheart © Jack Taylor Cox 02. Directing a photoshoot in one of England’s many studios 03. On location with Jack Taylor Cox 04. VR Carts - © Viewpoint Games 05. Lou Cordwell from Magnetic North 8 — Creative England 50 9 The following individuals and businesses have been chosen for their talent, their ingenuity and their ability to turn a bright idea into a commercial success. Across games, TV, film and digital media industries, this is ‘Creative England’. Future Leaders 01 Abby Ajayi London 02 aql Yorkshire and the Humber The companies highlighted in the 03 Arinze Kene London CE 50 list have been voted by a panel 04 Bonafide North East of creative industry judges to be part 05 of Creative England’s Future Leaders Carbon Digital North West list. These companies are leading 06 Citrus Suite North West the charge for the creative industries, 07 Coacher Yorkshire and the Humber showcasing the best of what 08 Destiny Ekaragha London England’s regions have to offer 09 Droplet West Midlands and transforming the country’s 10 EMU Films North West economic future. 11 Evil Twin Artworks South West 12 Flix Interactive West Midlands 13 Flowify Yorkshire and the Humber 14 FuturLab South East 15 Gaelle Denis London 16 Ground Shatter South West 17 Guy Myhill East of England 18 HMA Digital Marketing Yorkshire and the Humber 19 Inflammable Yorkshire and the Humber 4 20 Jack Taylor Cox London 30 21 Jude Ower - Playmob West Midlands 22 LivingLens North West 31 23 Magnetic North North West 24 Matt Wilkinson London 25 Media Molecule South East 26 Mubaloo South West 2 27 Mutant Labs South West 18 50 28 Ninja Theory East of England 10 36 5 42 29 Nomad Games North West 6 22 20 7 13 19 23 38 30 Nosebleed Interactive North East 29 49 32 45 31 Oceloid Interactive North East 35 32 Peter Middleton East Midlands 33 Pixel Toys West Midlands 41 17 21 34 Playground Games West Midlands 12 9 35 Rachel Dargavel East Midlands 48 33 36 Rachel Tunnard Yorkshire and the Humber 34 28 37 Rook Films South West 38 Rormix North West 39 1 8 26 44 3 39 Rumpus Animation South West 16 43 11 15 20 40 Sean Buckley South East 24 46 41 Shoothill West Midlands 42 Skylab North West 25 43 Sun and Moon studios South West 37 40 44 The Bureau London 14 2747 45 The Floow Yorkshire and the Humber 46 The Imaginarium London 47 Total Monkery South West 48 Viewpoint Games West Midlands 49 Vorpal Games North West the 50? Where are 50 Yippee! Entertainment North West 10 — Creative England 50 Where are the 50 — 11 At Creative England we believe the best way to make progress is to embrace the unknown and focus on potential. If England is to continue to be a world-leader in creative business, then we need to give our creative heroes of the future the support they need. Stuart Rock Saul Klein Our ten Future Leaders, all of whom have benefited from Stuart is the editor-in-chief of Business is GREAT, the UK Saul has been a partner at venture capital firm Index Ventures Government’s campaign designed to support SMEs across since 2007. An entrepreneur with two decades of experience investment by Creative England, were chosen by a panel the country, and is editorial consultant for the UK Business building and exiting companies in both the US and Europe, of judges for their strong growth promise and their potential Angels Association.